Head having wrap-controlled flexible media interface

ABSTRACT

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a module having a tape bearing surface, a magnetic transducer in a thin film region, and an edge closest to the transducers. A guide is positioned relative to the edge for inducing tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape above a tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface. The magnetic transducer is positioned along the tape tenting region.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to data storage systems, and more particularly, this invention relates to magnetic data storage systems, specifically, magnetic tape heads.

In magnetic storage systems, magnetic transducers read data from and write data onto magnetic recording media. Data is written on the magnetic recording media by moving a magnetic recording transducer to a position over the media where the data is to be stored. The magnetic recording transducer then generates a magnetic field, which encodes the data into the magnetic media. Data is read from the media by similarly positioning the magnetic read transducer and then sensing the magnetic field of the magnetic media. Read and write operations may be independently synchronized with the movement of the media to ensure that the data can be read from and written to the desired location on the media.

An important and continuing goal in the data storage industry is that of increasing the density of data stored on a medium. For tape storage systems, that goal has led to increasing the track and linear bit density on recording tape, and decreasing the thickness of the magnetic tape medium. However, the development of small footprint, higher performance tape drive systems has created various problems in the design of a tape head assembly for use in such systems.

In a tape drive system, the drive moves the magnetic tape over the surface of the tape head at high speed. Usually the tape head is designed to minimize the spacing between the head and the tape. The spacing between the magnetic head and the magnetic tape is crucial and so goals in these systems are to have the recording gaps of the transducers, which are the source of the magnetic recording flux in near contact with the tape to effect writing sharp transitions, and to have the read elements in near contact with the tape to provide effective coupling of the magnetic field from the tape to the read elements.

SUMMARY

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a module having a tape bearing surface, a magnetic transducer in a thin film region, and an edge closest to the transducers. A guide is positioned relative to the edge for inducing tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape above a tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface. The magnetic transducer is positioned along the tape tenting region.

An apparatus according to another embodiment includes a module having a tape bearing surface, an array of magnetic transducers in a thin film region, and an edge closest thereto. A guide is positioned relative to the edge for inducing tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape above a tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface. The magnetic transducers are positioned along the tape tenting region.

An apparatus according to yet another embodiment includes a module having a tape bearing surface, a magnetic transducer in a thin film region, and an edge closest thereto. A guide is positioned relative to the edge for inducing tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape above a tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface. The magnetic transducer is positioned toward an edge of the tape tenting region at about a point of closest approach of the tape and the tape bearing surface.

Any of these embodiments may be implemented in a magnetic data storage system such as a tape drive system, which may include a magnetic head, a drive mechanism for passing a magnetic medium (e.g., recording tape) over the magnetic head, and a controller electrically coupled to the magnetic head.

Other aspects and embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, when taken in conjunction with the drawings, illustrate by way of example the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of a simplified tape drive system according to one embodiment.

FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of a tape cartridge according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of a flat-lapped, bi-directional, two-module magnetic tape head according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2A is a tape bearing surface view taken from Line 2A of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2B is a detailed view taken from Circle 2B of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2C is a detailed view of a partial tape bearing surface of a pair of modules.

FIG. 3 is a partial tape bearing surface view of a magnetic head having a write-read-write configuration.

FIG. 4 is a partial tape bearing surface view of a magnetic head having a read-write-read configuration.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a magnetic tape head with three modules according to one embodiment where the modules all generally lie along about parallel planes.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a magnetic tape head with three modules in a tangent (angled) configuration.

FIGS. 7A-7C are schematics depicting the principles of tape tenting.

FIGS. 8A-8C are partial side views of a magnetic tape head according to various embodiments.

FIG. 8D is a partial side view of a magnetic tape head with an outrigger according to one embodiment.

FIG. 8E is a partial side view of a magnetic tape head with an outrigger according to one embodiment.

FIG. 8F is a partial side view of a magnetic tape head with magnetic tape passing over the head at different wrap angles according to various embodiments.

FIG. 9 is a partial side view of a magnetic tape head according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the present invention and is not meant to limit the inventive concepts claimed herein. Further, particular features described herein can be used in combination with other described features in each of the various possible combinations and permutations.

Unless otherwise specifically defined herein, all terms are to be given their broadest possible interpretation including meanings implied from the specification as well as meanings understood by those skilled in the art and/or as defined in dictionaries, treatises, etc.

It must also be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless otherwise specified.

The following description discloses several preferred embodiments of magnetic storage systems, as well as operation and/or component parts thereof.

In one general embodiment, an apparatus a module having a tape bearing surface, a magnetic transducer in a thin film region, and an edge closest to the transducers. A guide is positioned relative to the edge for inducing tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape above a tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface. The magnetic transducer is positioned along the tape tenting region.

In another general embodiment, an apparatus includes a module having a tape bearing surface, an array of magnetic transducers in a thin film region, and an edge closest thereto. A guide is positioned relative to the edge for inducing tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape above a tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface. The magnetic transducers are positioned along the tape tenting region.

In yet another general embodiment, an apparatus includes a module having a tape bearing surface, a magnetic transducer in a thin film region, and an edge closest thereto. A guide is positioned relative to the edge for inducing tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape above a tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface. The magnetic transducer is positioned toward an edge of the tape tenting region at about a point of closest approach of the tape and the tape bearing surface.

FIG. 1A illustrates a simplified tape drive 100 of a tape-based data storage system, which may be employed in the context of the present invention. While one specific implementation of a tape drive is shown in FIG. 1A, it should be noted that the embodiments described herein may be implemented in the context of any type of tape drive system.

As shown, a tape supply cartridge 120 and a take-up reel 121 are provided to support a tape 122. One or more of the reels may form part of a removable cartridge and are not necessarily part of the system 100. The tape drive, such as that illustrated in FIG. 1A, may further include drive motor(s) to drive the tape supply cartridge 120 and the take-up reel 121 to move the tape 122 over a tape head 126 of any type. Such head may include an array of readers, writers, or both.

Guides 125 guide the tape 122 across the tape head 126. Such tape head 126 is in turn coupled to a controller 128 via a cable 130. The controller 128, may be or include a processor and/or any logic for controlling any subsystem of the drive 100. For example, the controller 128 typically controls head functions such as servo following, data writing, data reading, etc. The controller 128 may include at least one servo channel and at least one data channel, each of which include data flow processing logic configured to process and/or store information to be written to and/or read from the tape 122. The controller 128 may operate under logic known in the art, as well as any logic disclosed herein, and thus may be considered as a processor for any of the descriptions of tape drives included herein, in various embodiments. The controller 128 may be coupled to a memory 136 of any known type, which may store instructions executable by the controller 128. Moreover, the controller 128 may be configured and/or programmable to perform or control some or all of the methodology presented herein. Thus, the controller 128 may be considered to be configured to perform various operations by way of logic programmed into one or more chips, modules, and/or blocks; software, firmware, and/or other instructions being available to one or more processors; etc., and combinations thereof.

The cable 130 may include read/write circuits to transmit data to the head 126 to be recorded on the tape 122 and to receive data read by the head 126 from the tape 122. An actuator 132 controls position of the head 126 relative to the tape 122.

An interface 134 may also be provided for communication between the tape drive 100 and a host (internal or external) to send and receive the data and for controlling the operation of the tape drive 100 and communicating the status of the tape drive 100 to the host, all as will be understood by those of skill in the art.

FIG. 1B illustrates an exemplary tape cartridge 150 according to one embodiment. Such tape cartridge 150 may be used with a system such as that shown in FIG. 1A. As shown, the tape cartridge 150 includes a housing 152, a tape 122 in the housing 152, and a nonvolatile memory 156 coupled to the housing 152. In some approaches, the nonvolatile memory 156 may be embedded inside the housing 152, as shown in FIG. 1B. In more approaches, the nonvolatile memory 156 may be attached to the inside or outside of the housing 152 without modification of the housing 152. For example, the nonvolatile memory may be embedded in a self-adhesive label 154. In one preferred embodiment, the nonvolatile memory 156 may be a Flash memory device, ROM device, etc., embedded into or coupled to the inside or outside of the tape cartridge 150. The nonvolatile memory is accessible by the tape drive and the tape operating software (the driver software), and/or another device.

By way of example, FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of a flat-lapped, bi-directional, two-module magnetic tape head 200 which may be implemented in the context of the present invention. As shown, the head includes a pair of bases 202, each equipped with a module 204, and fixed at a small angle α with respect to each other. The bases may be “U-beams” that are adhesively coupled together. Each module 204 includes a substrate 204A and a closure 204B with a thin film portion, commonly referred to as a “gap” in which the readers and/or writers 206 are formed. In use, a tape 208 is moved over the modules 204 along a media (tape) bearing surface 209 in the manner shown for reading and writing data on the tape 208 using the readers and writers.

The substrates 204A are typically constructed of a wear resistant material, such as a ceramic. The closures 204B may be made of the same or similar ceramic as the substrates 204A.

The readers and writers may be arranged in a piggyback or merged configuration. An illustrative piggybacked configuration comprises a (magnetically inductive) writer transducer on top of (or below) a (magnetically shielded) reader transducer (e.g., a magnetoresistive reader, etc.), wherein the poles of the writer and the shields of the reader are generally separated. An illustrative merged configuration comprises one reader shield in the same physical layer as one writer pole (hence, “merged”). The readers and writers may also be arranged in an interleaved configuration. Alternatively, each array of channels may be readers or writers only. Any of these arrays may contain one or more servo track readers for reading servo data on the medium.

FIG. 2A illustrates the tape bearing surface 209 of one of the modules 204 taken from Line 2A of FIG. 2. A representative tape 208 is shown in dashed lines. The module 204 is preferably long enough to be able to support the tape as the head steps between data bands.

In this example, the tape 208 includes 4 to 32 data bands, e.g., with 16 data bands and 17 servo tracks 210, as shown in FIG. 2A on a one-half inch wide tape 208. The data bands are defined between servo tracks 210. Each data band may include a number of data tracks, for example 1024 data tracks (not shown). During read/write operations, the readers and/or writers 206 are positioned to specific track positions within one of the data bands. Outer readers, sometimes called servo readers, read the servo tracks 210. The servo signals are in turn used to keep the readers and/or writers 206 aligned with a particular set of tracks during the read/write operations.

FIG. 2B depicts a plurality of readers and/or writers 206 formed in a gap 218 on the module 204 in Circle 2B of FIG. 2A. As shown, the array of readers and writers 206 includes, for example, 16 writers 214, 16 readers 216 and two servo readers 212, though the number of elements may vary. Illustrative embodiments include 8, 16, 32, 40, and 64 active readers and/or writers 206 per array, and alternatively interleaved designs having odd numbers of reader or writers such as 17, 25, 33, etc. An illustrative embodiment includes 32 readers per array and/or 32 writers per array, where the actual number of transducer elements could be greater, e.g., 33, 34, etc. This allows the tape to travel more slowly, thereby reducing speed-induced tracking and mechanical difficulties and/or execute fewer “wraps” to fill or read the tape. While the readers and writers may be arranged in a piggyback configuration as shown in FIG. 2B, the readers 216 and writers 214 may also be arranged in an interleaved configuration. Alternatively, each array of readers and/or writers 206 may be readers or writers only, and the arrays may contain one or more servo readers 212. As noted by considering FIGS. 2 and 2A-B together, each module 204 may include a complementary set of readers and/or writers 206 for such things as bi-directional reading and writing, read-while-write capability, backward compatibility, etc.

FIG. 2C shows a partial tape bearing surface view of complementary modules of a magnetic tape head 200 according to one embodiment. In this embodiment, each module has a plurality of read/write (R/W) pairs in a piggyback configuration formed on a common substrate 204A and an optional electrically insulative layer 236. The writers, exemplified by the write transducer 214 and the readers, exemplified by the read transducer 216, are aligned parallel to an intended direction of travel of a tape medium thereacross to form an R/W pair, exemplified by the R/W pair 222. Note that the intended direction of tape travel is sometimes referred to herein as the direction of tape travel, and such terms may be used interchangeably. Such direction of tape travel may be inferred from the design of the system, e.g., by examining the guides; observing the actual direction of tape travel relative to the reference point; etc. Moreover, in a system operable for bi-direction reading and/or writing, the direction of tape travel in both directions is typically parallel and thus both directions may be considered equivalent to each other.

Several R/W pairs 222 may be present, such as 8, 16, 32 pairs, etc. The R/W pairs 222 as shown are linearly aligned in a direction generally perpendicular to a direction of tape travel thereacross. However, the pairs may also be aligned diagonally, etc. Servo readers 212 are positioned on the outside of the array of R/W pairs, the function of which is well known.

Generally, the magnetic tape medium moves in either a forward or reverse direction as indicated by arrow 220. The magnetic tape medium and head assembly 200 operate in a transducing relationship in the manner well-known in the art. The piggybacked MR head assembly 200 includes two thin-film modules 224 and 226 of generally identical construction.

Modules 224 and 226 are joined together with a space present between closures 204B thereof (partially shown) to form a single physical unit to provide read-while-write capability by activating the writer of the leading module and reader of the trailing module aligned with the writer of the leading module parallel to the direction of tape travel relative thereto. When a module 224, 226 of a piggyback head 200 is constructed, layers are formed in the gap 218 created above an electrically conductive substrate 204A (partially shown), e.g., of AlTiC, in generally the following order for the R/W pairs 222: an insulating layer 236, a first shield 232 typically of an iron alloy such as NiFe(—), cobalt zirconium tantalum (CZT) or Al—Fe—Si (Sendust), a sensor 234 for sensing a data track on a magnetic medium, a second shield 238 typically of a nickel-iron alloy (e.g., ˜80/20 at % NiFe, also known as permalloy), first and second writer pole tips 228, 230, and a coil (not shown). The sensor may be of any known type, including those based on MR, GMR, AMR, tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR), etc.

The first and second writer poles 228, 230 may be fabricated from high magnetic moment materials such as ˜45/55 NiFe. Note that these materials are provided by way of example only, and other materials may be used. Additional layers such as insulation between the shields and/or pole tips and an insulation layer surrounding the sensor may be present. Illustrative materials for the insulation include alumina and other oxides, insulative polymers, etc.

The configuration of the tape head 126 according to one embodiment includes multiple modules, preferably three or more. In a write-read-write (W-R-W) head, outer modules for writing flank one or more inner modules for reading. Referring to FIG. 3, depicting a W-R-W configuration, the outer modules 252, 256 each include one or more arrays of writers 260. The inner module 254 of FIG. 3 includes one or more arrays of readers 258 in a similar configuration. Variations of a multi-module head include a R-W-R head (FIG. 4), a R-R-W head, a W-W-R head, etc. In yet other variations, one or more of the modules may have read/write pairs of transducers. Moreover, more than three modules may be present. In further approaches, two outer modules may flank two or more inner modules, e.g., in a W-R-R-W, a R-W-W-R arrangement, etc. For simplicity, a W-R-W head is used primarily herein to exemplify embodiments of the present invention. One skilled in the art apprised with the teachings herein will appreciate how permutations of the present invention would apply to configurations other than a W-R-W configuration.

FIG. 5 illustrates a magnetic head 126 according to one embodiment of the present invention that includes first, second and third modules 302, 304, 306 each having a tape bearing surface 308, 310, 312 respectively, which may be flat, contoured, etc. Note that while the term “tape bearing surface” appears to imply that the surface facing the tape 315 is in physical contact with the tape bearing surface, this is not necessarily the case. Rather, only a portion of the tape may be in contact with the tape bearing surface, constantly or intermittently, with other portions of the tape riding (or “flying”) above the tape bearing surface on a layer of air, sometimes referred to as an “air bearing”. The first module 302 will be referred to as the “leading” module as it is the first module encountered by the tape in a three module design for tape moving in the indicated direction. The third module 306 will be referred to as the “trailing” module. The trailing module follows the middle module and is the last module seen by the tape in a three module design. The leading and trailing modules 302, 306 are referred to collectively as outer modules. Also note that the outer modules 302, 306 will alternate as leading modules, depending on the direction of travel of the tape 315.

In one embodiment, the tape bearing surfaces 308, 310, 312 of the first, second and third modules 302, 304, 306 lie on about parallel planes (which is meant to include parallel and nearly parallel planes, e.g., between parallel and tangential as in FIG. 6), and the tape bearing surface 310 of the second module 304 is above the tape bearing surfaces 308, 312 of the first and third modules 302, 306. As described below, this has the effect of creating the desired wrap angle relative to the tape bearing surface 310 of the second module 304.

Where the tape bearing surfaces 308, 310, 312 lie along parallel or nearly parallel yet offset planes, intuitively, the tape should peel off of the tape bearing surface 308 of the leading module 302. However, the vacuum created by the leading edge 318 of the leading module 302 has been found by experimentation to be sufficient to keep the tape adhered to the tape bearing surface 308 of the leading module 302. The trailing edge 320 of the leading module 302 (the end from which the tape leaves the leading module 302) is the approximate reference point which defines the wrap angle of the second module 304. The tape stays in close proximity to the tape bearing surface until close to the trailing edge 320 of the leading module 302. Accordingly, read and/or write elements 322 may be located near the trailing edges of the outer modules 302, 306. These embodiments are particularly adapted for write-read-write applications.

A benefit of this and other embodiments described herein is that, because the outer modules 302, 306 are fixed at a determined offset from the second module 304, the inner wrap angle is fixed when the modules 302, 304, 306 are coupled together or are otherwise fixed into a head. The inner wrap angle is approximately tan⁻¹(δ/W) where δ is the height difference between the planes of the tape bearing surfaces 308, 310 and W is the width between the opposing ends of the tape bearing surfaces 308, 310. An illustrative inner wrap angle is in a range of about 0.3° to about 1.1°, though can be any angle required by the design.

Beneficially, the inner wrap angle on the side of the module 304 receiving the tape (leading edge) will be larger than the inner wrap angle on the trailing edge, as the tape 315 rides above the trailing module 306. This difference is generally beneficial as a smaller tends to oppose what has heretofore been a steeper exiting effective wrap angle.

Note that the tape bearing surfaces 308, 312 of the outer modules 302, 306 are positioned to achieve a negative wrap angle at the trailing edge 320 of the leading module 302. This is generally beneficial in helping to reduce friction due to contact with the trailing edge 320, provided that proper consideration is given to the location of the crowbar region that forms in the tape where it peels off the head. This negative wrap angle also reduces flutter and scrubbing damage to the elements on the leading module 302. Further, at the trailing module 306, the tape 315 flies over the tape bearing surface 312 so there is virtually no wear on the elements when tape is moving in this direction. Particularly, the tape 315 entrains air and so will not significantly ride on the tape bearing surface 312 of the third module 306 (some contact may occur). This is permissible, because the leading module 302 is writing while the trailing module 306 is idle.

Writing and reading functions are performed by different modules at any given time. In one embodiment, the second module 304 includes a plurality of data and optional servo readers 331 and no writers. The first and third modules 302, 306 include a plurality of writers 322 and no data readers, with the exception that the outer modules 302, 306 may include optional servo readers. The servo readers may be used to position the head during reading and/or writing operations. The servo reader(s) on each module are typically located towards the end of the array of readers or writers.

By having only readers or side by side writers and servo readers in the gap between the substrate and closure, the gap length can be substantially reduced. Typical heads have piggybacked readers and writers, where the writer is formed above each reader. A typical gap is 20-35 microns. However, irregularities on the tape may tend to droop into the gap and create gap erosion. Thus, the smaller the gap is the better. The smaller gap enabled herein exhibits fewer wear related problems.

In some embodiments, the second module 304 has a closure, while the first and third modules 302, 306 do not have a closure. Where there is no closure, preferably a hard coating is added to the module. One preferred coating is diamond-like carbon (DLC).

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the first, second, and third modules 302, 304, 306 each have a closure 332, 334, 336, which extends the tape bearing surface of the associated module, thereby effectively positioning the read/write elements away from the edge of the tape bearing surface. The closure 332 on the second module 304 can be a ceramic closure of a type typically found on tape heads. The closures 334, 336 of the first and third modules 302, 306, however, may be shorter than the closure 332 of the second module 304 as measured parallel to a direction of tape travel over the respective module. This enables positioning the modules closer together. One way to produce shorter closures 334, 336 is to lap the standard ceramic closures of the second module 304 an additional amount. Another way is to plate or deposit thin film closures above the elements during thin film processing. For example, a thin film closure of a hard material such as Sendust or nickel-iron alloy (e.g., 45/55) can be formed on the module.

With reduced-thickness ceramic or thin film closures 334, 336 or no closures on the outer modules 302, 306, the write-to-read gap spacing can be reduced to less than about 1 mm, e.g., about 0.75 mm, or 50% less than commonly-used Linear Tape Open (LTO) tape head spacing. The open space between the modules 302, 304, 306 can still be set to approximately 0.5 to 0.6 mm, which in some embodiments is ideal for stabilizing tape motion over the second module 304.

Depending on tape tension and tape bending stiffness, it may be desirable to angle the tape bearing surfaces of the outer modules relative to the tape bearing surface of the second module. FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment where the modules 302, 304, 306 are in a tangent or nearly tangent (angled) configuration. Particularly, the tape bearing surfaces of the outer modules 302, 306 are about parallel to the tape at the desired wrap angle at the second module 304. In other words, the planes of the tape bearing surfaces 308, 312 of the outer modules 302, 306 are oriented at about the desired wrap angle relative to the second module 304. The tape will also pop off of the trailing module 306 in this embodiment, thereby reducing wear on the elements in the trailing module 306. These embodiments are particularly useful for write-read-write applications. Additional aspects of these embodiments are similar to those given above.

Typically, the tape wrap angles may be set about midway between the embodiments shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

Additional aspects of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 are similar to those given above.

A 32 channel version of a multi-module head 126 may use cables 350 having leads on the same or smaller pitch as current 16 channel piggyback LTO modules, or alternatively the connections on the module may be organ-keyboarded for a 50% reduction in cable span. Over-under, writing pair unshielded cables may be used for the writers, which may have integrated servo readers.

The outer wrap angles may be set in the drive, such as by guides of any type known in the art, such as adjustable rollers, slides, etc. or alternatively by outriggers, which are integral to the head. For example, rollers having an offset axis may be used to set the wrap angles. The offset axis creates an orbital arc of rotation, allowing precise alignment of the wrap angle.

To assemble any of the embodiments described above, conventional u-beam assembly can be used. Accordingly, the mass of the resultant head may be maintained or even reduced relative to heads of previous generations. In other approaches, the modules may be constructed as a unitary body. Those skilled in the art, armed with the present teachings, will appreciate that other known methods of manufacturing such heads may be adapted for use in constructing such heads. Moreover, unless otherwise specified, processes and materials of types known in the art may be adapted for use in various embodiments in conformance with the teachings herein, as would become apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading the present disclosure.

Conventionally, limitations on areal density are imposed by loss of signal quality due to increase in head-media spacing resulting from head wear, or from deposits or other buildup on the head surface. A method used by the industry to counter the effects of head wear includes pre-recessing and coating the magnetic head. However, pre-recession and coating increase magnetic spacing between the tape and the surface of the sensor and may limit achievable recording linear density.

A longer tape bearing surface between the edges of a module may enable minimal tape-to-head spacing in order to improve resolution and signal output. Specifically, a longer tape bearing surface creates a middle region of the tape bearing surface for the tape to couple with between regions of tenting created by the tape at each edge of the module. However, in TMR heads, minimal spacing between tape and the tape bearing surface of the sensor may result in shorting of the sensor by the passing tape. Unfortunately, shorting of the TMR sensor has the capability to render a TMR sensor partially to completely non-functional.

Particularly, defects in the magnetic medium may cause shorting across the sensor. Conventionally, pre-recessed sensors with very hard coatings on the media bearing surfaces help mitigate wear and shorting due to defects in the magnetic medium passing over the sensor. However, under severe conditions, such as large defects embedded in the media, shorting may still occur in these heads. Moreover, coatings may be susceptible to wear by the tape and thus become less protective over time.

Methods such as pre-recession of the recording gap and/or coating on the tape bearing surface may also be used to control head-tape spacing. However, neither of these methods enables a way to tailor the spacing according to measured head geometry for each head. In addition, when the fabrication processes of the module are complete, there are no previously-known methods to make adjustments to the spacing between the head and tape. Accordingly, because the spacing in conventional heads may be at a minimal spacing, the shorting problem of TMR sensors has been a pervasive barrier to the introduction of TMR to tape recording.

Various embodiments described herein provide heads having magnetic transducers such as sensors (e.g., data sensors, servo sensors, Hall effect sensors, etc.) and/or write transducers (writer) positioned in the tape tenting region along the tape bearing surface of the head. Furthermore, positioning the magnetic transducer under the tape tenting region may enable adjustment of head-to-tape spacing during building of the head or when the head is in the drive. Moreover, the tenting of the tape over the magnetic transducer may reduce head-tape friction and out-of-tape fluctuations as well as diminish impact of asperities from the tape on the head.

FIGS. 7A-7C illustrate the principles of tape tenting. FIG. 7A shows a module 700 having an upper tape bearing surface 702 extending between opposite edges 704, 706. A stationary tape 708 is shown wrapping around the edges 704, 706. As shown, the bending stiffness of the tape 708 lifts the tape off of the tape bearing surface 702. Tape tension tends to flatten the tape profile, as shown in FIG. 7A. Where tape tension is minimal, the curvature of the tape is more parabolic than shown.

FIG. 7B depicts the tape 708 in motion. The leading edge, i.e., the first edge the tape encounters when moving, may serve to skive air from the tape, thereby creating a subambient air pressure between the tape 708 and the tape bearing surface 702. In FIG. 7B, the leading edge is the left edge and the right edge is the trailing edge when the tape is moving left to right. As a result, atmospheric pressure above the tape urges the tape toward the tape bearing surface 702, thereby creating tape tenting proximate each of the edges. The tape bending stiffness resists the effect of the atmospheric pressure, thereby causing the tape tenting proximate both the leading and trailing edges. Modeling predicts that the two tents are very similar in shape.

FIG. 7C depicts that the subambient pressure urges the tape 708 toward the tape bearing surface 702 even when a trailing guide 710 is positioned above the plane of the tape bearing surface.

The heads depicted in the FIGS. discussed above may be constructed to mitigate the occurrence of shorting due to tape defects by inducing tape tenting over the transducers using the teachings presented herein.

While much of the following description refers to a sensor being present in the tape tenting region, this is done by way of example only, and any type of transducer may be used in any of the following embodiments in place of the described sensor.

FIGS. 8A-8F depict an apparatus 800 in accordance with various embodiments. As an option, the present apparatus 800 may be implemented in conjunction with features from any other embodiment listed herein, such as those described with reference to the other FIGS. Of course, however, such an apparatus 800 and others presented herein may be used in various applications and/or in permutations which may or may not be specifically described in the illustrative embodiments listed herein. Further, the apparatus 800 presented herein may be used in any desired environment.

As shown in FIG. 8A, tenting may be induced above the sensitive transducers, thereby minimizing tape-transducer contact forces in the tenting region. Though the resulting reduced (subambient) air pressure in the area between the tape 802 and the tape bearing surface 808 causes atmospheric pressure to urge the tape towards the tape bearing surface 808, the combination of wrap angle, tape bending stiffness and subambient air pressure under the tape causes the tape 802 to lift from the tape bearing surface 808 of the module 801 proximate to the edge 804 and return toward tape bearing surface 808, thereby forming the tenting profile. Subambient air pressure between the tape and tape bearing surface 808 may be created in any number of ways, such as skiving, active vacuum, presence of wells, air bleed slots, etc.

For present purposes, the wrap angle α is measured between a plane 835 of the tape bearing surface 808 and a straight line 823 drawn tangent to the tape supporting surface of the guide 862 and intersecting the edge 804. As shown, the tape tends to bow where it wraps the edge, and consequently the angle the tape makes relative to the plane 835 of the tape bearing surface 808 at the edge is smaller than the wrap angle α.

Any wrap angle α greater than 0° relative to a plane 835 of the tape bearing surface 808 results in a tent 810 being formed by the moving tape 802 adjacent the edge 804 of the tape bearing surface 808. This effect is a function of the wrap angle, tape bending stiffness, tape surface roughness, tape surface compressibility, atmospheric pressure, and tape tension, and to a lesser extent, tape speed. For given geometrical wrap angles, for example, stiffer tapes tend to produce larger tents 810. Nonetheless, where conditions such as wrap angle and tape tension are otherwise identical, tapes of a given type from a particular manufacturer tend to exhibit a similar tenting profile whereby the tenting region defined thereunder varies only slightly from tape to tape. Tapes from different manufacturers and/or generations may exhibit dissimilar tenting characteristics under otherwise identical conditions. Fortunately, tenting characteristics are readily determinable using numerical modeling techniques known to those of skill in the art, such as Finite Element Modeling (FEM), Finite Difference Modeling (FDM), etc. and combinations thereof. Nonetheless, differences in tenting characteristics from tape to tape in the same generation under otherwise identical conditions may be considered negligible.

In an exemplary embodiment of apparatus 800 as shown in FIG. 8A, a module 801 has a tape bearing surface 808, an edge 804, and a sensor 809 in a thin film region 814 of the module 801. Note that while the present exemplary embodiment is shown as including a sensor 809, other embodiments may have a write transducer in place thereof or in addition thereto.

Moreover, module 801 includes a guide 862 positioned relative to the edge 804 for inducing tenting 810 of a moving magnetic recording tape 802 passing generally along direction 832. Furthermore, the sensor 809 may be positioned under the location of the tenting 810 along a tape tenting region 813 of the tape bearing surface 808. In general, the tape tenting region 813 extends from the edge 804 to a point where the tape is close to, and then substantially parallels, the tape bearing surface 808. In many instances, a midpoint of the tape tenting region 813 is approximately proximate to the peak 805 of the tenting 810.

In some approaches as illustrated in FIG. 8A, the module 801 may have a sensor 809 within the thin film region 814 positioned under the peak 805 of the tenting 810. In other approaches, as illustrated in FIG. 8B, the module 851 may have a sensor 859 within the thin film region 864 positioned to the left of the peak 805 of the tenting 810 (for example, proximate to the edge 804) and the edge 804. FIG. 8B also illustrates an embodiment where the sensor 859 is recessed from the plane 835 of the tape bearing surface. Such recession can be applied to any embodiment described herein.

In yet other approaches as illustrated in FIG. 8C, the module 861 may have a sensor 869 within the thin film region 874 positioned between the peak 805 of the tenting 810 and the point of closest approach. The position of the sensor is not limited to these examples and may be positioned at any location under the tenting formed by the motion of the magnetic recording tape.

FIG. 8C also depicts presence of a coating 825 on the media facing side of the support surfaces 822, 824 and thin film region 874. The running tape may bevel the edge of the coating, as shown.

Also, as shown in FIG. 8C, at the transition region of the tape between tenting and nontenting, a wear trough 827 may be formed over time by the tape passing thereover. Such wear trough 827 may be formed to some extent during testing at the factory, for example.

The height of the tenting is a function of the wrap angle α at the edge 804. Generally, the larger the wrap angle, the more the tape 802 will tend to bend away from the tape bearing surface 808, creating a larger tent 810. Ultimately, if the wrap angle α at the edge 804 is high, the forces (atmospheric pressure) urging the tape 802 towards the tape bearing surface 808 may be overcome and the tape 802 then may decouple from the tape bearing surface 808 downstream of the tenting 810, in spite of the vacuum. Therefore, the wrap angle α is preferably selected to provide the desired tenting without breaking the vacuum induced by skiving.

In a preferred embodiment of apparatus 800, the guide 862 may be positioned to set a wrap angle α of the magnetic recording tape 802 relative to a plane 835 of the tape bearing surface 808 that creates the tenting 810 in the moving tape. In other approaches, the tape bearing surface 808 may be planar.

A guide mechanism 862 may be configured to set a wrap angle α of the magnetic recording tape 802 at edge 804 of the module 801. Such guide mechanisms may include, e.g., a tape guide such as guide 125 of FIG. 1A, a pitch roller, a tension arm, another module, etc. For example, the guide may be a second module having magnetic transducers thereon such as one of the other modules, e.g., as shown in the various FIGS. In further approaches, the guide mechanism 862 may be an outrigger. FIGS. 8D and 8E depict embodiments having outriggers as guides 862.

Looking to FIG. 8F, different wrap angles α at the edge 804 may be set to create tents 810 a-810 d of different peak heights h. For example, a smaller wrap angle α may create a shallow tent 810 d with the motion of the magnetic recording tape 802 over the edge 804, whereas a larger wrap angle (angle not shown, but which may be estimated from the plane 835 of the tape bearing surface 808 to the thin line forming a steeper tent 810 a) with the motion of the magnetic recording tape 802 over the edge 804. Wrap angles therebetween may cause the moving magnetic recording tape 802 to create proportionate tents 810 b, 810 c. In a preferred embodiment of apparatus 800, the wrap angle α created by the guide may be in a range of about 0.1 to about 1.5 degrees. The peak height h of the tenting at this range of wrap angles may range from about 5 nm to 50 nm from tape bearing surface 808 to the upper extent of the peak 805 of the tenting. For example, a smaller wrap angle may create a peak height h of about 5 nm of the tenting 810 d as illustrated in FIG. 8F. Thus, by controlling the degree of the wrap angle, the head-to-tape spacing above the sensor may be controlled.

Multiple modules may be assembled to form a tape head having an internal wrap angle that may be selected based on a measurement of the edge-to-sensor separation for each module.

In the embodiment of apparatus 800 as shown in FIG. 8A, the module 801 includes a tape support surface 822 on one side of the thin film region 814 and a tape support surface 824 on an opposite side of the thin film region 814, where an outer edge of tape support surface 822 may be a skiving edge 804 depending on the direction of tape motion.

Looking to FIG. 8A-8B, the module 801 preferably includes a thin film region 814 and a CPP sensor 809 (e.g. such as a TMR sensor, GMR sensor, etc. of a type known in the art) that are positioned between the tape support surfaces 822, 824.

According to some embodiments, the sensor 809 may be configured as a data sensor for reading data tracks of a magnetic medium. In some approaches, the apparatus 800 includes one or more arrays of such data sensors.

According to some embodiments, the sensor 809 may be configured as a servo pattern reading sensor of a servo reader. For example, the sensor 809 may be configured as a servo pattern reading sensor where apparatus 800 includes one or more arrays of data sensors and/or writers and one or more servo pattern reading sensors for reading servo data on a medium.

In yet another embodiment, a module is comprised of an array of writer transducers and servo readers. In this case, the servo readers may be used for sensing and/or for setting the magnetic spacing in the tent.

One embodiment of apparatus 800 may include a drive mechanism such as a motor or other known mechanism that is configured to cause the tape to move over the module and a controller electrically coupled to the drive mechanism. For example, the motor or other known mechanism may drive a tape supply cartridge, e.g., tape supply cartridge 120 of FIG. 1A, and a take-up reel, e.g., take-up reel 121 also of FIG. 1A, of a drive in which the block is implemented in, to move the tape media over the module and/or other components of the drive.

FIG. 9 depicts an apparatus 900 in accordance with one embodiment. As an option, the present apparatus 900 may be implemented in conjunction with features from any other embodiment listed herein, such as those described with reference to the other FIGS. Of course, however, such an apparatus 900 and others presented herein may be used in various applications and/or in permutations which may or may not be specifically described in the illustrative embodiments listed herein. Further, the apparatus 900 presented herein may be used in any desired environment.

Referring to FIG. 9, the components are similar to those of FIG. 8A, and therefore have common numbering. However, the magnetic transducer 809, e.g., writer and/or sensor is positioned toward an edge of the tape tenting region 813 at about a point of closest approach 902 of the tape 802 and the tape bearing surface 808. Any of the aforementioned features may be used in conjunction with this embodiment.

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computer program product. The computer program product may include a computer readable storage medium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that can retain and store instructions for use by an instruction execution device. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of the computer readable storage medium includes the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. A computer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construed as being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmitted through a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can be downloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computer readable storage medium or to an external computer or external storage device via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprise copper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/or edge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in each computing/processing device receives computer readable program instructions from the network and forwards the computer readable program instructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium within the respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations of the present invention may be assembler instructions, instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The computer readable program instructions may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readable program instructions by utilizing state information of the computer readable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the computer readable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises an article of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects of the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computer implemented process, such that the instructions which execute on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

Moreover, a system according to various embodiments may include a processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor, the logic being configured to perform one or more of the process steps recited herein. By integrated with, what is meant is that the processor has logic embedded therewith as hardware logic, such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), etc. By executable by the processor, what is meant is that the logic is hardware logic; software logic such as firmware, part of an operating system, part of an application program; etc., or some combination of hardware and software logic that is accessible by the processor and configured to cause the processor to perform some functionality upon execution by the processor. Software logic may be stored on local and/or remote memory of any memory type, as known in the art. Any processor known in the art may be used, such as a software processor module and/or a hardware processor such as an ASIC, a FPGA, a central processing unit (CPU), an integrated circuit (IC), etc.

It will be clear that the various features of the foregoing systems and/or methodologies may be combined in any way, creating a plurality of combinations from the descriptions presented above.

It will be further appreciated that embodiments of the present invention may be provided in the form of a service deployed on behalf of a customer.

The inventive concepts disclosed herein have been presented by way of example to illustrate the myriad features thereof in a plurality of illustrative scenarios, embodiments, and/or implementations. It should be appreciated that the concepts generally disclosed are to be considered as modular, and may be implemented in any combination, permutation, or synthesis thereof. In addition, any modification, alteration, or equivalent of the presently disclosed features, functions, and concepts that would be appreciated by a person having ordinary skill in the art upon reading the instant descriptions should also be considered within the scope of this disclosure.

While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of an embodiment of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus, comprising: a module having a tape bearing surface, a magnetic transducer in a thin film region, and an edge closest thereto; and a guide positioned relative to the edge for inducing tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape above a tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface, wherein the tenting includes a peak, wherein the magnetic transducer is positioned along the tape tenting region, wherein the magnetic transducer is positioned a distance from a location on the tape bearing surface directly under the peak that is more than one-third the length from the location directly under the peak to the edge closest thereto.
 2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the guide is positioned to set a wrap angle relative to a plane of the tape bearing surface, the wrap angle being greater than 0 degrees.
 3. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the wrap angle is in a range of about 0.1 to about 1.5 degrees.
 4. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the tape bearing surface is planar.
 5. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the magnetic transducer is positioned long the tape tenting region a distance from the location on the tape bearing surface directly under the peak that is more than one-half the length from the location directly under the peak to the edge closest thereto.
 6. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the magnetic transducer is positioned between a leading edge and a peak of the tape tenting region.
 7. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the wrap angle is in a range of about 0.1 to 0.49 degrees.
 8. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein a media facing side of the magnetic transducer is recessed from the tape bearing surface.
 9. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, comprising a wear coating on the tape bearing surface.
 10. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the guide is a roller.
 11. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the guide is a second module having magnetic transducers thereon.
 12. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the guide is an integral outrigger.
 13. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the magnetic transducer is a tunneling magnetoresistance sensor.
 14. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the magnetic transducer is a write transducer.
 15. An apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the write transducer is not recessed.
 16. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the magnetic transducer is a Hall effect sensor.
 17. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a drive mechanism for passing a magnetic medium over the module; and a controller electrically coupled to the magnetic transducer.
 18. An apparatus, comprising: a module having a tape bearing surface, an array of magnetic transducers in a thin film region, and an edge closest thereto; and a guide positioned relative to the edge for inducing tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape above a tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface, wherein the tenting includes a peak, wherein the magnetic transducers are positioned along the tape tenting region, wherein the magnetic transducers are positioned a distance from a location on the tape bearing surface directly under the peak that is more than one-third the length from the location directly under the peak to the edge closest thereto.
 19. An apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein the guide is positioned to set a wrap angle relative to a plane of the tape bearing surface, the wrap angle being greater than 0 degrees.
 20. An apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein the magnetic transducers are positioned along the tape tenting region a distance from the location on the tape bearing surface directly under the peak that is more than one-half the length from the location directly under the peak to the edge closest thereto.
 21. An apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein the tape bearing surface is planar.
 22. An apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein media facing sides of the magnetic transducers are recessed from the tape bearing surface.
 23. An apparatus as recited in claim 18, comprising a wear coating on the tape bearing surface.
 24. An apparatus as recited in claim 18, further comprising: a drive mechanism for passing a magnetic medium over the module; and a controller electrically coupled to the magnetic transducers.
 25. An apparatus, comprising: a module having a tape bearing surface, a magnetic transducer in a thin film region, and an edge closest thereto; and a guide positioned relative to the edge for inducing tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape above a tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface, wherein the tenting includes a peak, wherein the tenting at the peak is in a range of about 5 nm to about 50 nm from the tape bearing surface, wherein the magnetic transducer is positioned along the tape tenting region, wherein the magnetic transducer is positioned between the peak and the edge closest thereto. 